Little White Lies (3 page)

“Lovely to meet you both.”

A shiver runs down my spine as his sparkling dark eyes meet mine.

“I’m Kenny.”

“Christian works at The Flying Pig pub down the road,” Kenny says. “I’ll walk with you.”

“Thanks!” Vix smiles.

“No need,” I say quickly. “If you could just give us directions, that’d be great. We don’t want to put you to any trouble.”

“No trouble.” Kenny grins. “I’m on my way there now anyway.”

“Wonderful!” Vix beams.

Yeah. Wonderful.

“What about your heels, Vix?” I protest.

“Don’t be silly!” She shoots me a look. “They’re fine! Besides, I could do with some fresh air.”

“So are you a student here—
Leigh,
was it?” Kenny asks as I reluctantly follow them down the road.

“Louise.”
I shoot him a look. “Yes. I’m studying English literature.”

“Ah, fiction.” He smiles knowingly. “Of course.”

Shit
.
He’s going to ruin everything. So much for reinventing myself.

“We’re both students. That’s how we met,” Vix pipes up. “Lou and I are in the same halls, and have some of the same classes too, but I’m doing journalism.”

“All hail the power of the press.” Kenny bows. “The media have created and destroyed more careers than any other force known to man.”

Brilliant. He could tell her
everything
. Vix, the fricking aspiring investigative reporter.

“Oh, I’m only interested in the facts,” she says earnestly. “I believe that’s the true function of the press.”

“Quite right.” Kenny smiles. “
Fact
and
fiction
. What an intriguing pair you make.”

“Is it far to this pub?” I snap as we turn onto a street filled with more terraced cottages and there’s still no sign of it.

“Nope.” Kenny grins. “Not far.”

“So are you a student too, Kenny?” Vix asks.

“Yep. I’m doing computer science.”

“Wow, that must be interesting,” she gushes. “I always think it’s amazing how computers are programmed by code—it’s like a secret language or something!”

What?
I shoot her a look. She’s changed her tune.

“Ah, it’s when you crack the code that it gets interesting.” Kenny winks. “Once you’ve hacked one computer you can hack them all.”

My heart beats fast. “So how do you know Christian, Kenny?” I ask, quickly changing the subject.

“A result of my drinking habits, I’m afraid. The pub’s just round the corner from my flat—”

“You live in a flat, not halls?” Vix says, impressed.

“Yeah, I had enough of communal living at boarding school.” He shudders. “I moved up here a few weeks early to acclimatize, and I met Christian in the first pub I went to. Plus his house is almost opposite my nearest off-license, so I’ve bumped into him on the street a few times too. How about you two?”

“Oh, we don’t know him—yet.” Vix smiles.

Kenny raises an eyebrow. “Then why are you looking for him?”

“Well...,” Vix starts.

“He dropped his wallet,” I say quickly. “We just want to return it.”

“Ah! A couple of Good Samaritans, are you?”

I feel sick.

“Hey, you could ask him about a job too, Lou,” Vix suggests. “Kill two birds with one stone? Returning his wallet proves you’re trustworthy, after all.”

Kenny nods. “Trust: you can’t put a price on that.”

I shiver.
Except when you can
...

“You can trust me,” Kenny said the day I first approached him, back at Oakwood Grange boarding school. But I didn’t believe him, not straight away. Despite the fact that we’d been at the same school for a whole year, I barely knew him—our social spheres were galaxies apart. Until that day. Until I needed him.

I gate-crashed a meeting of the computer club and found Kenny showing a new website he’d created to his geeky mates.

“Impressive,” I said, and instantly they all turned, startled. Girls were rare enough at the college—we were outnumbered three to one—but in the ICT room they had long been declared extinct.

“Nice work.” I let my Chanel-spritzed hair brush Kenny’s shoulder as I leaned towards the screen. “What else can you do?”

He spent the rest of the evening showing off all his codes and tricks, till finally I asked him to walk me back to my boarding house.

“The truth is, Kenny, I need your help,” I sighed once we were alone. “I’m in big trouble, and you’re the only one who can get me out of it.”

I told him I was struggling in biology and had a mock exam coming up that would determine my predicted grade—and consequently which universities I could apply to.

“So I’m guessing you don’t want me to tutor you, as I’m not even taking biology?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Not exactly.”

“So...?”

I took a deep breath. “The mock paper’s on the school computer system....”

“Wait.” His eyes widened. “You want me to hack into the system so you can cheat on the exam?” He ran a hand through his thick ginger hair. “Bloody hell.”

“Please, Kenny, you’re my last hope,” I said desperately, grabbing his hand and squeezing tight. “I can’t fail it. If I do, I won’t have a
chance
of getting offers from the universities I want. Plus my aunt and uncle will
kill
me—they’ve forked out a fortune for me to come to Oakwood!”

“But you’ll still need to get good grades in your actual exams in the summer.” Kenny frowned. “Otherwise the universities won’t take you anyway.”

“I can turn things around by then,” I insisted. “I’ve just been... distracted lately. Let me worry about the actual A levels.” I gazed up at him pleadingly. “Or are you saying it’s too difficult?”

“As if!” he scoffed, looking at me for a long moment. “Okay, I’ll do it. Anything for a damsel in distress.”

“Thank you!” I cried, throwing my arms around his neck.

“You’re welcome, Titch,” he laughed, squeezing me tight. “But I’d like a favor in return.”

His price was being his date to his cousin’s wedding. I agreed—it was a small price to pay if he could really do what I asked—and, more importantly, keep his mouth shut.

And he delivered on both fronts. He never told a soul what we’d done. I passed the test—and he passed mine. As time went by I tested his computer knowledge, his skill, and his loyalty. He seemed to relish the opportunity to show off, and each time he passed with flying colors. Then finally I approached him with the big one.

I shudder as I remember that night in Neil’s office. After that, I never thought I’d see Kenny again—we were never
supposed
to see each other again.... Yet here he is, hundreds of miles from where we last met. But
why
?

“Are you ready?” Vix suddenly stops in front of me and turns, shaking me from my thoughts.

I blink at her. “For what?”

“For the moment of truth!” Vix cries.

I freeze. Have I missed something? Has Kenny told her?

“Lou, come on, have you got the wallet ready?”

Wallet? Oh, right,
Christian
. Suddenly I realize we’re standing outside a pub.

“No,” I say, my head spinning as I stare up at the Flying Pig sign,
at the people sitting, chatting and laughing at the tables out front. “I just... need a minute, okay?”

“Of course.” She nods, then glances at Kenny. “Excuse us for a moment while we powder our noses,” Vix says to him. “Lou?”

“Hm?” I look up.

“You coming?” Vix raises her eyebrows.

“Um, no thanks.” This is my chance to speak to Kenny alone.

“You
sure
?” She frowns, confused.

“Positive. See you in a bit.”

Kenny looks from Vix to me, amusement twinkling in his eyes.

“Okay, then! You guys grab a table out here. I’ll be right back.” Vix glares at me as she disappears inside the pub.

“Uh-oh.” Kenny grins, sitting down at a table. “I think you missed her subtle hints.”

“I don’t care,” I hiss. “What the hell’s going on, Kenny?”

“Calm down,
Louise.
” He winks. “I thought blondes were meant to have more fun? Maybe it’s only
natural
blondes.”

My blood runs cold. “Why are you here?”

He shrugs. “Getting a degree.”

“But why
here
?” I demand. “Why
Sheffield
?”

“Same as you.” He shrugs. “I got in through clearing.”

“But
why
did you go through clearing at all?” I stare at him. “Unlike me, you didn’t flunk your exams—you’re a genius!”

“Aw, thanks, babe.” He grins.

“What I mean is you could’ve had your pick of universities,” I press. “Why choose
here
?”

“Of all the gin joints in all the world, why’d I walk into yours?”

“Exactly!”

“Simple.” He shrugs. “You’re here.”

An icy shiver trickles down my spine as my whole world falls apart in front of me. This was it, this was my chance, and Kenny’s ruined it. It’s over. It’s over before it even began. Unless...

“What do you want, Kenny?”

“Settle, petal, I can keep a secret. You know that better than anyone.”

“But what’s it worth, right?” I nod grimly.

He frowns. “I’m hurt, Titch. I don’t want anything. Besides, I was kidding, Ms. Ego. The whole world doesn’t revolve around you, you know?”

I look at him uncertainly. “Then...?”

“I just decided Oxford wasn’t for me,” he sighs. “I’ve had my fill of quads and spires, and too many stuffy snobs from Oakwood were going there. And then Professor Kentley—one of my heroes—tra
nsferred to the faculty here, so... Sheffield was the obvious choice.”

“So it’s just a coincidence?” I say warily.

“It’s serendipity!” He beams.

I shuffle my feet. It’s hardly a
lucky
accident....

“Now I can help you.”

“What?”

“I’ve been worried about you.” Kenny’s face softens. “It must be really hard, starting a new life, with a new identity, having to lie to everyone....”

“Shh,”
I hiss as a group of girls from my halls pass by. “So what was all that crap about fact and fiction?”

“I was just having a little fun. I’m sorry, okay? I won’t give you away, I promise.”

I search his eyes, trying to work out what’s going on inside his head, unsure whether to believe him.

“I understand why you’re doing it, you know,” he says gently. “If it’d happened to my family, I’d do the same thing.” His gaze softens. “How is she?”

My heart sinks. “The same.”

He nods. “And your uncle?”

“How do you think he is?” I snap.

“Hey, I’m on your side. I just ask because... well, I haven’t seen anything in the papers for a while.”

“Thank goodness.” It was almost impossible to leave the house once the press got hold of the story. And as for school—it was like I’d grown a second head. Everywhere I went, people stared at me. Conversations would stop the minute I entered a room, then bubble up in excited whispers the moment I left. All I wanted was to forget for a while, to be normal, to be like everyone else.

And now I am.

“No one here knows who I am, Kenny—as far as anyone knows I’m just Louise Shepherd, a normal fresher starting at uni.”

“Got it,” he says earnestly. “Honestly, I’m not here to cause trouble, Titch. I just thought you could use a friendly face. Someone to talk to. Someone you don’t have to lie to.”

I sigh. It
is
exhausting lying all the time. Vix was right; the great thing about uni, moving into halls with hundreds of other students, is that it’s the perfect place to reinvent yourself. No one knows you, your past, your family, your background, so you can be whoever you want to be.

In theory.

But the trouble with pretending to be someone else is that you can’t let your guard down for a moment. Especially when you’re befriended by an aspiring investigative journalist.

“I’m here for you, Titch,” Kenny says softly, taking my hand. “Haven’t I kept your secret so far?”

I nod.
The biggest secret of all.

“You can trust me.” He squeezes my hand. “I promise. Let me help you.”

I smile weakly. It’s not exactly like I have a choice. If Kenny’s here to stay, it’s safer to keep him onside.

“What’ve I missed?” Vix says as she emerges from the pub with two pints.

Too late, I drop Kenny’s hand.

“Cheers, Vix!” He grins as she sips her pint and passes him the second. “What about Lou?”

“I thought Lou might want to go to the bar herself.” Vix’s face tightens as she looks at me. “That’s why we’re here, after all!”

I hesitate.

“Shall I come with you?” she offers.

I falter, torn between the danger of leaving her alone with Kenny and the torture of trying to approach Christian with an audience.

“Come on!” Vix grabs my arm, making my decision for me as she drags me into the pub.

“What are you doing?” She turns on me once we’re safely inside.

“What?”

“I thought you liked
Christian
.”

“I do!”

“So why are you trying it on with Kenny, the only guy I’ve met who’s half decent?” she demands.

“I’m not! I’m not interested in Kenny—he’s not my type,” I tell her.

But I don’t want
Vix
getting interested either....

“Besides, he seems a bit... weird,” I add.